Sports Reporter

Looking forward to the opportunity to play under Stuart ... Josh Papalii. Photo: Jeffrey Chan

NEW PARRAMATTA coach Ricky Stuart has landed his first signing after Canberra firebrand Josh Papalii agreed to a three year deal with the Eels.

After missing out on North Queensland and Australian props Matt Scott and James Tamou, the Eels believe Papalii will add aggression to their forward pack in 2014.

"Josh is an outstanding young footballer and will bring with him all the attributes we are looking for in player at the Parramatta Eels," Stuart said.

"We are a club building for the future and signing a young man of Josh's ability represents that."

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Papalii is the first player to sign with a rival club for next year and Fairfax Media has been told that Raiders officials hope he changes his mind before the round 13 cooling off period.

However, the 21-year-old Kiwi forward said he was looking forward to the opportunity to play under Stuart.

"Heading to Parramatta next season is a new and exciting challenge, they are a club on the rise and I am looking forward to being a part of what Ricky Stuart and the team up there are doing," Papalii said.

"My first priority though is playing good footy for the Raiders this year and going out on a high."

Eels chief executive Ken Edwards said securing the services of Papalii was a massive boost for the strategy the club has for the future.

"We have a plan at the Parramatta Eels to continue to restore pride in our jersey and once again be a dominant force in the NRL," Edwards said.